Ayu must go, Wike camp insists, pulls out of Atiku’s campaign

The Peoples Democratic Party’s group of Governor Nyesom Wike has formally confirmed that it would not be taking part in the party’s presidential campaign for the 2023 elections.

After a lengthy meeting that lasted from around 7 p.m. on Tuesday to well after 2 a.m. Wednesday morning, at Wike’s private residence in Port Harcourt, the state capital of Rivers, the group declared its position.

Members of the group declared that unless the party’s national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, steps down in favour of a southern candidate, none of them would take part in the campaign council in any capacity.

Some of the group’s members were recently chosen to serve as campaign council members and leaders for Atiku Abubakar, the party’s presidential candidate.

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, former governors Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo, Ayo Fayose of Ekiti, Donald Duke of Cross River, Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe, and Jonah Jang of Plateau, as well as former Attorney General of the Federation Mohammed Adoke, were all present at this historic gathering at Wike’s home in Port Harcourt.

Elder statesmen Olabode George, and Jerry Gana; South-South PDP chairman Dan Orbih, former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chibudom Nwuche, Senator Suleiman Nazif, Nnenna Ukeje, and other people were also present at the meeting.

They gather to brief journalists on the outcome after spending more than seven hours in private meetings, from 7 p.m. on Tuesday, September 20, to past 2 a.m. on Wednesday, September 21, with Chief Olabode George delivering the shocker.